Tuesday March 3

Today was our first student led walking tour of an assigned area in Rome. The students were assigned to give us a walking tour of piazza del Popolo and the area around the Spanish steps. I have posted many pictures in past blogs of this particular area of Rome. I don't have much to add in that regard except for a view of Rome from the steps of Trinita dei Monti, the French church in Rome. This view is always picture worthy.

After the walking tour, Mike Cinson and I decided to wander over into piazza Navona area for lunch and also to check out some locations I had not visited yet.

On our walk we came across this wall with directions. I thought it was clever. also gives one a sense of how much stuff is crammed into this area of Rome.

 

 

 

We also discovered the birthplace of fettucini Alfredo. Which according to Danilo Mori, no self respecting Italian would ever eat.

 



We decided to wander over to Gesu because I could not remember if I had been inside before. Gesu is famous because it was the first Jesuit, Society of Jesus, church built in Rome. The Jesuits were started by St. Ignatius Loyola. His name is associated with a great many Catholic universities in America. His tomb is in Gesu. See below

 

St. Ignatius was a soldier and a strong defender of the faith during the Protestant Reformation. In addition to defending the faith against protestant reformers, the Jesuits were also well known for their missionary work. Probably the most famous Jesuit missionary was St. Francis Xavier, another common name for schools and universities. He died on an island near China. Someone severed his arm before he was buried. It still is preserved on the altar of the St. Francis chapel in Gesu. I tried to capture a picture of the arm, see below.

 

 

 



After leaving Gesu we wandered over to the Quirinal area where I was last week. There was one church, Santi Apostoli that I was unable to visit inside although I posted exterior pictures. We walked past the Palazzo Venezia. It was from the balcony of this palazzo that Mussolini gave many speeches to the chanting crowd, Duce, Duce, Duce.

Santi Apostoli church was interesting for a couple of reasons. First, it was the Rome church of Michelangelo. Second, it had this interesting portico. And third, it was said to contain the tombs of Saints Philip and James. Also has this great tomb of pope Clement XIV.
Here is another view of the portico.

 

 

The tomb of Saints Philip and James, the Apostles.

the tomb of pope Clement XIV

 



All-in-all, another good day in Rome.